Artscape Launchpad Needs Your Help!

February 6, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in Uncategorized

Help shape Artscape Launchpad, a new creative sector entrepreneurship training and production centre.

Over the past several months NetGain and Artscape have interviewed individual artists and met with dozens of groups and organizations about Launchpad with the intent of learning how to make a dynamic centre like this successful for the creative and cultural sector.  Now we want to hear directly from a wider group of creative practitioners about the model we’re developing.

Artscape Launchpad will include access to:

  • a range of studio and work space;
  • equipment and materials that are often too expensive or challenging to operate independently;
  • programming (e.g. business and artistic workshops, master classes, industry-specific professional development), and;
  • on-site services and amenities.

Launchpad is envisioned as a downtown Toronto space that brings together a variety of creative disciplines, from design to new media to film to visual and performing arts, and more.  These creative practitioners will mix with corporate partners and industry and trade organizations in an environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, networking, and commercial success.

We need input from practitioners like you to make sure Launchpad offers what you need to help you further develop your career. Please take about 10-15 minutes to complete a questionnaire at: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/768801/CFC

The survey will be open until this Friday, February 10th.

 

 

Contact Mauricio Vasquez vasquez@netgainpartners.com or 416-367-2385 with any questions.  Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in the survey.

 

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Another Event: A Game Design Competition

February 2, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events > Interactive Industry > News & Events

GameChangers is a game design competition for diverse teams to collaborate, network, share and develop skills in software and game development. Join in at the Open House to get started!  Participation is FREE and teams will be a mix of women and men studying or working in software development and game design.  For anyone interested in joining a team this open house is the first step to get signed up.  The 2-hour open house includes: Snappy Info Presentation, Game Demos, Mix & Meet, and a Game Design Jam Improv.  For more information please visit the GameChangers website, or email GameChangers.

GameChangers is a project of the Centre for Social Innovation, made possible with seed funding from the mesh prize and with support from great community advisors and partners.

Details…

When: Saturday February 4, 2012, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: CSI Annex, 720 Bathurst Street
RSVP Here: http://www.bettermail.ca/ct/242/168969/192217455/98711c4fdc59ccf1a41000293bce3d7f

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Transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT 2012 & Innovation Camp

February 1, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events > Interactive Industry

transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT is an invite-only event for thought-leaders in the content and technology sectors who are interested in a completely unique conference that’s focused on shifting the future of global digital innovations.

Taking place in Victoria transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT (TGS) 2012 is the think-tank conference that focuses on bringing together international creators, entrepreneurs, innovators and thought leaders from the creative content and technology sectors to exchange and leverage ideas linked to the creation and demand of digital creative content.

The conference attracts a wide range of creators and leaders from all content and technology sectors. The format of our events allow people to sit down to have the conversations and make the connections that bring value to their businesses or organizations. TGS is the event where you make new contacts and form new strategic plans in one of the most beautiful cities on the West Coast of Canada.

transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT 2012 will once again feature over 50 signature roundtable sessions, keynote presentations, B2B discussion forums, and cutting-edge live showcases.

Part of the transmitNOW series, transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT 2012 is comprised of the following key elements that form the backbone of transmitNOW events:

  • 50+ Roundtable Discussions that allow delegates to sit down with each other and have face-to-face conversations about the issues that are affecting their industries.
  • 6+ Keynote Presentations- that bring together thought-leaders from a diverse cross-section of sectors who have a story to tell and can relevant knowledge and intel.
  • 6+ B2B Discussion Forums- that are specifically tailored to our event partners and like-minded stakeholders to bring together select attendees to focus on a sector-specific issue.  Ana Serrano, director of the CFC Media Lab, will be leading one of these sessions.
  • World-Class Facilitation-in partnership with The Value Web, the internationally renowned facilitation team behind the World Economic Forum.

As part of Transmission: Global Summit we will be showing Heart of Stars a prototype completed by Vanessa Shaver and Tsu-Ching Yu.

David Nam of Herd.fm will also be attending the conference:

HERD.FM was conceived at the CFC Media Lab’s NBC Universal Multiplatform Matchmaking Program where co-founders Romeo Candido (2010), Davin Lengyel (2010) and James Milward (2010) challenged themselves to find a new way to share music.  Herd.fm welcomed David Nam as an executive team member and the vision of the product grew from being a geo-locative music discovery tool to a mobile service that solves the problem of sharing and discovering meaningful music in a fun, and easy way on the mobile platform.  Nam is the former VP of Product and Marketing at MXP4 and former Head of Marketing at Last.fm.

 

TRANSMISSION INNOVATION CAMP

A Monday-To-Monday Acceleration Programme for Startups Between Content and Technology Within the Context of transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT

Launching for the first time in transmitNOW’s history, the Innovation Camp is a unique acceleration programme dedicated to startups at the intersection of creative content and technology that leverages the expertise from transmitNOW’s international network of creators, academics, and business leaders.

Held over the course of eight days, 3-5 selected startups will be working in focused business modeling sessions in conjunction with a group of renowned mentors and The Value Web, while also having the opportunity to engage face-to-face with decision-making leaders and experts in the content and technology industries through the intimate surroundings established at transmission: GLOBAL SUMMIT.

Mentors to date include:

Conor Holler will be participating in the Innovation Camp and will be working on his project Deebo, a gamified approach to Diabetes management.  Deebo was recently presented at Lean Startup Machine Toronto and was incredibly well received.

Details:

When: February 8-10, 2012
Where: Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria, BC
Register Now: http://www.transmitnow.com/participate/register

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What You Missed at Lean Startup Machine Toronto!

January 31, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events > Interactive Industry

Lean Startup Machine is not a hack-a-thon or a pitching competition, it is a space where individuals come together to discuss ideas and validate them through real world interactions with potential customers.

Participants were asked to ideate, form groups, and then get customer validation for their products by talking to potential customers.  Validation often came in the form of money, letters of intent, or some other form of commitment to the startup idea.  Participants were encouraged by the organizer, Trevor Owens, to hit the street and talk to their customers and invalidate their assumptions!


The energy at the Burroughes in Toronto was intense, the teams worked quickly and feverishly to validate their startup ideas and pivot to create a minimum viable product to continue to test within their consumer bases all in four days!  The participants all felt that it was an incredibly intense and rewarding experience!

If you want to read the play-by-play be sure to go read out Twitter Feed from the weekend!

Lean Startups To Keep on Your Radar:

Several interesting startup ideas were presented at Lean Startup Machine Toronto to a panel of very interesting judges some being: Max Cameron of Big Bang Technology, and Satish Kanwar of Jet Cooper.  The presented ideas ranged from conference matchmaking databases to solutions to a tattoo artist’s paperwork management.  The winning idea of the event was HireShark a service that sorts resumes and helps you find the right talent for your business.

The CFC Media Lab was well represented at the event, Deebo, a gamified approach to managing ones diabetes was presented by alumnus Conor Holler, and fellow alumnae Simone Maurice joined his team to help him out for the weekend.  Deebo received the award of most niche startup idea.  Way to go guys!

 

Lean Links to Check Out

http://leanstartupmachine.com/
http://www.torontostandard.com/business/dont-talk-with-your-mouth-full-ten-lessons-from-lean-startup-machine-toronto/
http://www.torontostandard.com/business/lean-with-it/
http://bigbangtechnology.com/post/advice_for_lean_startup_machine_toronto_attendees

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You have to see it: Hamlet Live

January 27, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events

Malfi Productions is thrilled to announce a new transmedia theatre co-op, Hamlet Live, a unique retelling of the world’s most famous play. Set to burst onto the stage in downtown Toronto in January 2012, the play will also be streamed live on the internet, for international viewership.

In 2080, the world is quite a different place. Violent solar flares in the early 21st Century triggered an unparalleled nuclear meltdown across the globe. Denmark has done well under the martial leadership of King Hamlet, though his sudden passing has left a nation in mourning. His brother, Claudius, has stepped forth and assumed the crown and the former King’s Queen, Gertrude. It is during this transition that we find the young Hamlet, a warrior prince and imperial candidate by his own right, trying to find the means to avenge his father’s murder.

One of the first productions of its kind in Canada (and in many parts of the world), Hamlet Live, using a multi-camera set up, will broadcast live on the internet, bringing the vengeful Dane to internet users world wide for a fraction of the cost of attending a live performance. With sets of stationary and roaming cameras, a simulcast control room director will be on-hand to edit the show as it progresses for live broadcast.

Get your tickets here: http://www.hamletlive.com/tickets/

Special shout-out to CFC Media Lab alumnus Justin Ferrato who is the multi-camera simulcast producer/Control Room Director!

Who’s involved:

STAGE TEAM

Directed by: Kurt Spenrath
Hamlet: Kyle McDonald
Claudius: Ralph Small
Gertrude: Suzanne Bennett
Polonius: Scott McCulloch
Laertes: Kevin Robinson
Ophelia: Erynn Brook
Horatio: Luke Marty
Rosencrantz: Devin Upham
Guildenstern: Phil Borg

Stage Manager: Lindsey Alston
Technical Director: Travis Lahay

Wardrobe: Lindsey Alston
Set: Kurt Spenrath/Travis Lahay

Composer: Erica Procunier
Choreography: Kevin Robinson and Max Toulch

MEDIA TEAM

Multi-camera simulcast producer/Control Room Director: Justin Ferrato
“Behind The Scenes” Videographer and Photographer: Sam Sadaghiani
Professional Materials Photographer: Christos Tsirbas
Sr Graphic Designer: Mike Turnbull
Social Media Manager: Dani Gagnon

For more details visit: www.hamletlive.com

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You have to see it: Seed at the McMichael Gallery!

January 26, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events

Beginning January 28, take part in an ongoing interactive, cell phone-driven initiative that lets you plant a SEED and grow a virtual tree! Come see what it’s all about!

SEED was developed in 2005 as a project by Toronto-based artist Napoleon Brousseau and his two technologist friends, Gabe Sawhney and Galen Scorer, and co-produced by the Canadian Film Centre. It has been presented at several venues around the world and the McMichael is SEED’s very first public art gallery appearance.

Seed explores the convergence of rich media and wireless technology in the creation of a collaborative and evolving work of art. Through sound and imagery, users create and populate a forest together. By dialing a particular number on the screen, each participant receives a “seed” on the public screen. By using the keypad on the cell phone audiences have the ability to grow their seeds, choose the type of trees they want to plant, and change their texture and color.

This winter and spring, the McMichael celebrates the artistic, cultural, and natural aspects of the tree with two breathtaking exhibitions, special installations, and variety of Tree-related activities for all ages, every weekend! It’s all part of The McMichael Tree Project.

Details:
When: January 28th, 2012 – April 22, 2012
Where: McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, Ontario
(Islington Avenue north of Major Mackenzie Drive on the east side)
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Download It Now: Herd.fm

January 25, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > News

Herd.fm is back and better than ever!

The application delivers best in-app music sharing, discovering and listening experience with API integration from top music services: Last.fm, Songkick, SoundCloud and YouTube!

Herd.fm promises to be the new standard for music sharing and discovery on mobile devices. As phones have become the heart of a person’s music collection, the ability to share songs with others has remained difficult. The new Herd.fm is customized for mobile devices and provides a user-friendly, streamlined experience that makes connecting people through meaningful songs and playlists simple and fun.

HERD.FM was conceived at the CFC Media Lab’s NBC Universal Multiplatform Matchmaking Program where co-founders Romeo Candido (2010), Davin Lengyel (2010) and James Milward (2010) challenged themselves to find a new way to share music.  Herd.fm welcomed David Nam as an executive team member and the vision of the product grew from being a geo-locative music discovery tool to a mobile service that solves the problem of sharing and discovering meaningful music in a fun, and easy way on the mobile platform.  Nam is the former VP of Product and Marketing at MXP4 and former Head of Marketing at Last.fm.

Details:
What is it: Music Discovery App
Platform: iOS, iPhone device
Download Now: http://bit.ly/herdfminstall
More Information: https://herd.fm/about
Follow: @herdfm
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Job Posting: Mobile Application Developer

January 25, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Jobs

Job Description: Mobile Application Developer, Toronto

EDAC is looking for a highly skilled multi-platform mobile application developer to build the first version, and potentially future versions, of Quinzee a mobile application that makes energy use relevant. This is a contract position that will last the duration of the development of the first version of Quinzee.

This project would be a good opportunity for someone already programming in Sencha Touch 2 to add a very exciting application to his or her portfolio. It would also be a great way for an experienced Adobe Flash, and specifically Adobe Flex, developer to retrain and build a best-in-class application for their portfolio on a fast-growing crossplatform development tool.

Responsibilities

  1. Understand application’s objectives through discussion with the founders and by interpreting the already completed design brief, wireframes, and graphics.
  2. Develop, from the ground up, the application on the Sencha Touch 2 platform (for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry), including design, development and debugging
  3. Test the application on all platforms and outline limitations and potential issues
  4. Be available for product maintenance for a reasonable amount of time upon completion of the project

Knowledge And Skill Requirements

  • Experience working with PhoneGap or Sencha Touch 2 or other multi-platform development tools
  • If not the above, experience developing in Adobe Flash, and particularly Adobe Flex
  • Experience with social media APIs and API structure language
  • Familiarity with relational database concepts

Education And Experience

  • Undergraduate degree, preferably in Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering or a related field
  • Masters degree in computer science or a related field preferred
  • At least two years developing mobile applications, at least one of which is awesome
  • Experience designing simple and compelling user experiences on a mobile

Good Qualities To Have

  • Attention to detail
  • A desire to build a game changing application that users will love
  • An appreciation for the visual arts, social networking and mobile social gaming

Compensation

Compensation will be determined based on the successful candidate’s level of experience and the work schedule agreed upon.

About Environmental Data Analytics & Communications (EDAC)

EDAC is a software-as-a-service company that builds systems that educate and influence individuals to improve resource management and system efficiencies.

If you are interested, please email:

Lee Bremer, Director, Systems Design, lbremer@edacglobal.com or
Faizal Karmali, Director, Commercial Development, fkarmali@edacglobal.com

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Tristan Perich at MUTEK: 1-Bit Symphony

January 23, 2012 | Aylwin Lo | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Events

In our final post of the MUTEK interview series, we talk to Tristan Perich about classical music, low-level microprocessor programming, interactivity, (pseudo-)randomness, and the imperfection of logical systems.

A composer, musician, programmer, and visual artist, Perich has explored the intersections of these disciplines for the past decade through sculpture, installation, and performance. Last year, he released 1-Bit Symphony: a 5-movement work delivered in a CD jewel case containing not an optical disc, but a circuit centred around a tiny Atmel microcontroller that “performs” his symphony through a standard headphone jack.

Atmel microcontrollers are at the heart of the Arduino open-source electronics platform commonly used to prototype creative hardware projects. But while Arduino programmers use a C++-like language, Perich programs his Atmel chips in assembly language – low-level language specific to the hardware it runs on.

Software developers usually program in higher-level languages like C++ and use a compiler to automatically translate their code into machine-executable assembly code. Assembly languages are typically more verbose than their higher-level counterparts and can be cryptic and non-portable.

If writing a symphony in assembly code sounds like a painstaking and laborious process, that’s because it is. However, Perich found something compelling in the process and has built up an appreciable body of work pairing low-level electronic and computer hardware with visual and aural expression.   Read More »

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Upcoming Events: Dx3 and Sprout Up!

January 20, 2012 | Andrea Mallozzi | Posted in CFC Media Lab > Interactive Industry > News & Events

Dx3 is the Canadian Trade Show Where Business Gets Digital.

When it comes to the digital landscape, there’s a ton of confusion. Luckily, Dx3 can help. Their educational, informative, and hands-on content sessions will deliver practical advice and help you to move your business and your career forward. Everything from early stage introductory sessions to advanced classes for the seasoned professional is covered.

Dx3 Canada will also have a wide array of companies exhibiting on the trade show floor, as well as unique interactive features that will inform, inspire, and intrigue. You can find our more about these under show features.

Details:

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
When: January 25-26, 2012
Register Here: https://www.microspec.com/reg/dx32012/index.htm

 

Sprout Up is a monthly event for forward-thinking entrepreneurs to gather and mind-meld.

A great chance for startups around the to get friendly, discuss current trends, and network in a casual, open, and focused setting. Sprout Up events have been held in cities around the world including Toronto, Montreal, NYC and London, and regularly have over 300 attendees.

Sprout Up is excited to announce the details of Sprout Up Toronto, taking place Tuesday, January 31st at The Courthouse. The guest speaker will be Dan Martell, an investor and serial entrepreneur. Most recently Dan was the founder of Flowtown, which was acquired in October 2011.

Details:

Where: The Courthouse (57 Adelaide St. E, Toronto, ON)
When: Tuesday January 31, 2012, 6:00pm.
Register Here: http://www.meetup.com/SproutUpTO/events/44210192/

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